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Notes -
This is a KEY factor that I think gets ignored because it's simply not 'noticeable.'
Attractive, well-adjusted, career AND family-oriented people are already somewhat rare on the population level (not rare within certain social circles), and they're thus even rarer in the general dating pool because they won't spend much time seeking dates, and they will tend to stay with existing partners for long periods of time.
Arguably the very definition of "well-adjusted" and "stable," respectively implies someone who has ease seeking and maintaining relationships, including romantic ones.
So if you are seeking stable and well-adjusted you're somewhat thwarted if you can't catch one during the brief window in which they're available and looking. You can go the route of being patient and persistent, but that simply exposes you to the rest of the dating pool for a long time.
And since most of them pair off early, it is entirely possible that one can go through many dates and not ever encounter one, which will then feed into one's perception of the general availability of decent partners.
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